Informally known as the “Academic Freedom Act”, HB 2438, proposed by State Rep. Bryan Terry, MD (R-Murfreesboro), seeks to provide students with an avenue to address grievances related to free speech violations in the classroom. Even with the Campus Free Speech Protection Act, co-sponsored by Terry in 2017, students still feel as though their free speech is restricted, fearing that their grades or treatment in the classroom by professors may be impacted if they voice their true opinion. The bill aims to resolve these concerns.

Known as a champion for students, Terry has taken up the issue on behalf of both high school
and college students through previous pieces of legislation and initiatives. In the past, Terry has
sponsored the Right to Try Act for Central Magnet School students and the Racial Profiling Prevention Act on behalf of MTSU students. And when the voting rights of Tennessee college students were being stripped, Terry was the legislator who answered the call. When students shared concerns over repercussions they experienced when voicing their opinion in class or on an assignment Terry stepped up for students.

“One of the main reasons I ran for office is to make a positive difference in our state for the future of my children and their generation. When these issues arise, I look to help them take a stand,” Terry said. “With the cost of college and the other stressors in life, our students shouldn’t have to be on guard and feel intimidated in a classroom about their political beliefs.”

A 2018 survey published on behalf of Yale University’s William F. Buckley, Jr. Program found that 53 percent of students felt intimidated to share their ideas, opinions, or beliefs in class if they were different than those expressed by their professors. Additionally, the survey found that 52 percent of students felt their professors used class time to express their own political or social views not related to course content.

“When I talk to Tennessee students, they echo the same concerns found in the Yale survey. It can be difficult to speak up in class or even find the right words when writing a paper,” Terry said. “But when one has to be concerned about offending their professor and risk getting alower grade, that is an unhealthy learning environment,” explained Terry. “In the end, if a student receives a lower grade based on their expressed beliefs, that is discrimination.”

Though Tennessee enacted the Campus Free Speech Protection Act in 2017, that act did not put forth any specific enforcement in the event that a student faced discrimination in their coursework for expressing a political view. The “Academic Freedom Act” amends current statute to allow students a remedy if they face discrimination for their views in the form of a cause of action against the offending institution.

“Proving discrimination occurred against a student who expressed a political opinion is a high bar to attain. But if the discrimination occurs and negatively impacts a student and their life trajectory, the institution should be held accountable. This bill does just that,” concluded Terry. HB 2438 has been placed on notice in the Higher Education Subcommittee. Rep. Bryan Terry, MD represents District 48 which is the eastern half of Rutherford County. His office can be contacted at 615-741-2180 or Rep.Bryan.Terry@Capitol.Tn.Gov

Representative Bryan Terry, MD (R-Murfreesboro) earned the Award for Conservative Excellence, the top designation from the American Conservative Union(ACU) which was
published this past week. He has been invited to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) annual meeting to be held in National Harbor, Maryland to accept the award.

“Whether it is standing for the sanctity of life, our Second Amendment rights, our liberties, or sound fiscally conservative policy that enhances our economy, I’m honored to be recognized for
taking the concerns of District 48 to Nashville and producing positive results,” stated Rep. Terry.

The honor from the ACU follows previous recognition Rep. Terry received for his legislative
efforts by Club for Growth and the TN Legislative Report Card. With Club for Growth, Rep.
Terry’s score ranked second amongst all legislators including both House and Senate members.
Whereas, with TN Legislative Report Card, Rep. Terry was named a “model public servant”.

“I appreciate the awareness these various groups bring forth by recognizing the efforts, work,
and results many legislators put forward. Helping citizens be informed is of vital importance, but
in the end, what really matters is the opinion of the constituency,” explained Rep. Terry. “I’ll
continue to value the faith that our community places in me and I’ll keep working for the
betterment of our district and the state of Tennessee.”

Rep. Terry represents District 48 which is the eastern half of Rutherford County. He serves as
the Chairman of the House Health Committee and serves on the Insurance and Calendar and
Rules committees. He, also, serves on the TennCare, Mental Health and Substance Abuse,
Public Health, and Facilities, Licensure, and Regulations subcommittees.

The Lee Administration has proposed an innovative, hybrid block grant solution to better address the unique needs of citizens who utilize TennCare for access to quality healthcare. The proposal is currently under a public comment period.

As a background, TennCare is a 12.7 billion dollar program where there is a 65/35 split in federal/state funding. The federal government provides 65% of the funds and the state supplies the other 35% via a required state match. If enrollment increases, the state must increase spending to meet the funding for additional patients unless the state/MCO’s decrease payment rates to providers and hospitals.

Of note, MediCare often doesn’t pay providers or hospitals the amount necessary to even meet the cost of providing the care to those patients. TennCare, which is Medicaid, pays providers and hospitals significantly less than Medicare, sometimes even 40-60% less. TennCare’s motto promotes high quality, cost efficient care. Providers and hospitals provide TennCare patients the same care as privately insured patients, but, often, at a financial loss. It is because of the low reimbursements from TennCare that the third leg of the health care stool-access- suffers.

In order for providers to keep their medical practices open, they must have a positive payer mix. TennCare, for the most part, does not improve a provider’s payer mix; thus, expanding TennCare in any traditional sense isn’t going to improve a payer mix nor improve access. In order to stay afloat, many providers have to limit the number of TennCare patients that they can or will see. More patients without an improvement in reimbursement isn’t going to change the number of TennCare patients that a provider can see.

While the TennCare program is 12.7 billion dollars, Tennessee is currently 6.8 BILLION under our waiver cap. That means that TennCare saves the government 6.8 billion dollars a year(roughly 4.4 federal and 2.4 state). The state receives “credit” for about 1/4 of that when they look at our waiver. So, one way of looking at TennCare’s efficiency is that the state saves federal and state taxpayers 6.8 billion dollars a year. The other way of looking at it is that TennCare has been underpaying hospitals and providers significantly since its inception-roughly $54 billion alone over the last decade.

The hybrid block grant proposal aims to leverage Tennessee’s efficiency into receiving a portion of the saved federal dollars via a mechanism called “shared savings”. If Tennessee saves the federal government two billion, then we should receive half of that in the form of funding without burdening Tennessee taxpayers with an additional match of 35%. The hybrid proposal, also, has safeguards for Tennessee in that if our enrollment numbers increase, our block grant will increase, as well. Additionally, it includes a yearly increase to keep up with inflation or growth.

The current federal system of Medicaid rewards states that overtax and overgrow their Medicaid system while punishing states like Tennessee that are efficient. A proposal that rewards fiscal soundness and conservativeness should be promoted, not punished. In a world where government waste and taxpayer abuse runs rampant, a proposal that protects taxpayers while ensuring constituent services are protected should be applauded.

Of course, the devil is in the details. If Tennessee is granted the funds, but expands services or enrollees without addressing the payment disparity, especially amongst rural providers, the block grant will not be addressing the third leg of health care which is access. Any proposal that does not look to improve payments to hospitals and providers who take a disproportionate number of TennCare patients, particularly in rural areas, will be missing an opportunity to better serve Tennesseans.

That being said, I find it ironic that most of those who advance the idea of Medicaid expansion never look to address the access problem current TennCare recipients have. They just speak about expanding the rolls without regards to the stress on the system due to the payment disparities that lead to poor payer mixes and restricted available appointments. Expanding rolls without first addressing the underlying problems does not benefit current recipients nor does it protect taxpayers.

A hybrid block grant, if constructed the correct way, has the potential to help address the payment problems that plague rural providers while, also, helping improve access for current recipients. If Tennessee can accomplish those goals while protecting Tennessee taxpayers, shouldn’t that option be seriously considered?

I’ve attached an article that discusses the block grant proposal, as well as some of the stakeholder’s comments.

“The Lee administration argues TennCare’s managed care approach has already led to an estimated $2 billion in annual cost savings for Uncle Sam over what a traditional fee-for-service Medicaid program would cost the federal government.

So Lee hopes to negotiate a 50/50 split on those and additional cost savings in which the state could reap as much as $1 billion, which Lee hopes to plow into improving rural health care and other initiatives.”

Much has been opined about the opioid crisis including what caused it, whose fault is it, and what can be done about it. Across the country, opioid related overdose deaths deceased four percent. Yet, Tennessee’s rate of overdoses continues to climb despite measures taken at the state level.

While many of the measures I have advocated for have passed, some of the more vital measures have not. The opioid crisis is a multifaceted problem with many intertwined and complicated parts. Unfortunately, many have a myopic view of the issue while others are just looking to do something for the sake of claiming they did something. Add in that many are advocating for seemingly unrelated issues, and it is easier to understand why this epidemic is a difficult problem to solve.

Understanding the supply and demand dynamics of the opioid crisis can help us find solutions, but it requires those looking for solutions to have open minds and a willingness to step away from failed strategies. To appreciate the supply and demand dynamics of opioids, one must first understand that there is both a legitimate and illicit demand for and supply of opioids.

Legitimate demand comes in the form of patients. Whether it is an acute injury like a broken bone, a perioperative need either before, during, or after surgery, or chronic pain associated with conditions like cancer, failed surgery, or a nerve injury, there is a consistent and endless market for the use of opioids. And while there are new drugs reaching the market all the time, until one becomes as effective in alleviating pain while minimizing side effects, the demand for opioids will continue.

Ironically, another legitimate demand from patients is that from one that is addicted to opioids. Patients who are addicted to heroin, fentanyl, or another opioid often undergo treatment in which methadone — another opioid — is often substituted. Buprenorphine, an agonist that produces opioid effects and an antagonist that blocks certain opioid effects is frequently used for treatment as well.

Illicit demand comes in several forms. Obviously, the most common cases involve those who are addicted to opioids. The process usually begins with initial use that may lead to tolerance, then to dependency and finally addiction. It may start as a legitimate patient who progresses to addiction or addiction that develops via recreational usage. Regardless of the route taken, addiction drives much of the illicit demand.

Another form of illicit demand includes those looking for a recreational use. Whether it is in the form of a party or one looking for a route of escape from reality or a psychological, physical, or emotional trauma, there are those who turn to opioids, which increases demand for the deadly drugs.

Perhaps, one of the more unfortunate illicit demands for opioids is from legitimate patients who have a physical need, but are under treated or mistreated by the system. Some patients in chronic pain or with cancer pain may look to alcohol, marijuana, or street opioids in order to function normally.

As physicians and as legislators, treating patients with a legitimate need for an opioid while preventing or decreasing the illicit demand is where many efforts need to be addressed. Decreasing the risk for patients to get on the on ramp to addiction is vitally important; it is just as important to prevent those who have gotten off the addiction highway from getting back on by ensuring there is proper addiction treatment available.

The supply side also has a legitimate and an illicit aspect. Legitimate supply comes in the form of a prescription from a medical related need by a patient. Opioids are supplied via a doctor, pharmacy, or hospital. Real patients with legitimate needs delivered in a safe, and effective manner drives much of the supply side of opioids.

Unfortunately, the legitimate supply side has been contaminated by the government, big pharma, and unscrupulous providers leading to an oversupply of unnecessary opioids into the marketplace. The government, by making pain the fifth vital sign, tying Medicare payments to patient satisfaction surveys, and instituting laws like the Intractable Pain Treatment Act didn’t just incentivize prescribing opioids, they mandated it. Big Pharma pushed controlled release opioids like OxyContin as a safer alternative, and many providers abused the new medical landscape placing pain profit over patients.

The illicit supply side of opioids involves two main sources: diversion or the selling or distribution of FDA approved opioids, as well as the trafficking of illicitly manufactured opioids. Unused prescription opioids and addiction treatment opioids are being sold on our streets or used in a recreational setting, and it has been a major concern in their illicit supply.

While appropriate and inappropriate uses of FDA approved opioids are a major concern, especially when mixed with other drugs, it is the trafficking of illicit opioids like heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil that should scare people. As an anesthesiologist, I treat patients with fentanyl almost every day. For its indicated use and under the right medical direction, it is a valuable tool. However, when traffickers can possess millions of lethal doses and push it into our communities, it becomes a major health concern. To make matters worse, many of these illicit opioids are being manufactured in China and wind up in our communities through Mexico.

As one can see, the supply and demand side of the opioid equation is quite intricate. If we truly want to be able to address this complex issue, focusing on one aspect while avoiding or neglecting the others will ultimately lead to failure. It is going to take a multifaceted approach with a willingness to attack all sides of the supply and demand equation to get Tennessee on the pathway to a better tomorrow.

Bryan Terry, MD (R-Murfreesboro) is the Chairman of the Tennessee House Health Committee. This is Part One of a two part series on Opioids: Supply and Demand.

Folks, I wanted to give the community an update on what has been going on with the DMV and ask for community input as we move into next year’s session. As I have been investigating the issues, a couple of stories have come about that highlight some of the issues at our driver’s service centers across the state.

As many know, we have a driver’s service center(DMV) located off Middle Tennessee Blvd. They provide driving permits, driver’s licenses, road testing, renewals, handgun permits, and now they have Real ID. We, also, have three renewal kiosks located in Rutherford County.

Nobody enjoys going to the DMV. Nobody wants to wait. Nobody who values their health points to the DMV and demands a DMV style government run health care system. It is an essential government service that everyone points to as a prime example of government inefficiency. Despite upgrades or changes, it always seems as if the system is still behind.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been investigating some issues that have cropped up. Ironically, the economy is booming and our labor market has gotten tight. For employees, it is great in that wages have risen, and employees are in high demand in the workplace. For those hiring, including the government, it means one has to look for solutions in order to offer a productive and efficient service.

Between emails, phones calls and meetings with the Department of Safety, Governor Lee’s office, our Speaker and Finance chair, and leadership, I have been looking for some solutions that could benefit our citizens. As I’ve described my four step process on issues before, I wanted to explain my process on this issue.

PREMISE OR PROBLEM

Our DMV has been experiencing extended delays for services, including in the office and road test services. While this premise or problem seems to be the standard operating procedure for a DMV, we have seen a recent worsening of this problem.

A few years ago, I looked into the issue. What I discovered was that the state average wait for a road test was 12 days while Rutherford County was around 18 days. Some options were floated, but the direction the Department of Safety wanted to take was to offload services from the DMV site either via kiosks or having counties oversee some of the services.

Rutherford County did not participate in absorbing some of these services. With a tight county budget and personnel restrictions, I certainly understand the decision. (As an aside, Lisa Duke Crowell is doing an admirable job and is willing to work for solutions. She has the interest of our constituents and taxpayers in mind.).

In the end, the Department of Safety placed three kiosks in Rutherford County. These kiosks help with renewals and are located at Middle Tennessee State University, the Murfreesboro Driver Services Center, and Rutherford County Clerk (Smyrna).

Currently, there are three acute problems occurring at our DMV. First, is personnel. We are supposed to have 8.5 full time equivalent employees at the center. Unfortunately, we are down 3 employees due to vacancies. The Dept. Of Safety has increased their salaries and has hired 3 people to fill the vacancies, but they haven’t started yet. Additionally, I have been told that our DMV recently had a person on vacation, one out for surgery, and one sick. They were down to 2.5 employees which backed things up considerably.

In today’s job market, it is difficult to attract employees to work in a DMV. It is a thankless job that has high turnover. Ironically, as I discuss turnover and vacancy issues, one of the individuals with the department that supplied me with information is no longer there.

Secondly, with Real ID coming into fruition, we have had an influx of people needing new IDs at the DMV. There are kiosks in the county to offload renewals, but that doesn’t help with new or real ID’s. Thirdly, gun permits have increased, as well.

We aren’t the only center having issues. There are 43 other centers in Tennessee like our center in Murfreesboro. Statewide, there are 29 vacancies. In addition, statewide there is a road testing average wait time of 11 days. Unfortunately, Rutherford County seems to be hit exceedingly hard. We have 10% of the vacancies and our road testing wait time is 28 days. Only the East Shelby County Driver’s Center has a longer wait at 29 days.

GOALS

Obviously, the goal should be to provide an efficient public service to the community in a cost efficient manner.

OPTIONS

Self-governance is the cornerstone of our republic. So, I am more than open to listening to any options that may be presented. Please, contact my office if you have any. That being said, I’ve been having discussions on three basic options. Understand that the Department of Safety has given raises to employees, but that still hasn’t resolved the issue.

First, the Department of Safety is continuing to look at offloading services from the main office. They are partnering with County Clerk Office’s to have county government provide some of the services. Many counties have joined in the partnership. Rutherford County has not, as of yet. Secondly, adding more kiosks may allow for decreasing demand at the service center.

Third, with high turnover and need to cover vacancies, vacations, and sick leave, starting a float pool to either work in the office or provide road testing is an option that I have discussed with the Department of Safety and the Lee Administration.

FEASIBILITY

Without significant financial outlay from the state to Rutherford County, it will be difficult for our county to participate in a partnership. With a tight county budget, personnel restrictions, and on the heels of a county tax increase, asking the county to foot the bill doesn’t seem feasible.

With a greater than 600 million dollar surplus, Tennessee should have significant non-recurring and recurring funds. Non-recurring funds could help with setting up more kiosks. Recurring funds could help with setting up and running a float pool.

CONCLUSION

The Department of Safety will be presenting their budget requests to the Governor soon. For our citizens, these services are a priority, and I’m pushing for them to address the concerns of our growing county.

(Nashville, Tenn.) — Throughout his time serving in the Tennessee General Assembly, State Representative Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro) has fought to make Tennessee an attractive destination for businesses and for families.

U.S. News recently ranked Tennessee No.1 in their report for Best States for Fiscal Stability while Business Facilities Magazine recognized Tennessee as having the best business climate.

“Our conservative, job friendly policies are helping Tennessee attract and grow businesses. We’re seeing businesses move to Tennessee from other states while also seeing Tennesseans open new businesses,” stated Terry. “Business leaders are showing confidence in Tennessee and it is reflected in our strong economy.”

With low unemployment rates and a strong business climate, Tennessee’s average median household income is growing at the second fastest rate in the entire southeast. The average private business hourly wage has grown in Tennessee and is hovering around $24 per hour without the regulatory endangerment of a $15 an hour minimum wage mandate.

“Tennessee is rising to the task of better jobs and wages without resorting to added regulatory burdens and legislative mandates that are counterproductive. However, this is just one piece of the puzzle to improve the quality of life for Tennesseans,” stated Terry. “Families and businesses prioritize various attributes of a community or state when looking to grow a business or raise a family. I am working diligently with my colleagues to address these other elements like health, safety, and quality education.”

While not often cited as the main deciding factor for family and business location, access to recreation and leisure activities often plays a pivotal role. Industries such as leisure, hospitality, and tourism, tend to thrive in healthy economic areas like Tennessee. The tourism industry — which currently employs 189,757 citizens and accounts for 6 percent of all jobs — generated over $1.8 billion in state and local revenue alone last year. That is a $50 million increase for the state over the previous year.

“Our economy is firing on all cylinders right now, and new companies are relocating to Tennessee every day. Clearly, Tennessee tourism and the hospitality industry are key components to our overall success, and my colleagues and I will continue to support those employed through these and all of our industries. Under Republican leadership, Tennessee will remain the best place in the entire nation to live, work, raise a family, and retire,” Terry concluded.

Bryan Terry, MD serves as Chairman of the House Health Committee. He is also a member of the House Insurance and the House Calendar & Rules Committees, as well as the Facilities, Licensure & Regulations, Mental Health, Public Health, and TennCare Subcommittees. Terry lives in Murfreesboro and represents Tennessee House District 48, which includes a portion of Rutherford County. He can be reached by email at: Rep.Bryan.Terry@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615) 741-2180.

NASHVILLE, JULY 8, 2019– Representative Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro) recently sent letters to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on behalf of District 48 and the Tennessee House Health Committee for support of a new proposed federal rule that would help improve the financial situation of Tennessee hospitals. The rule would adjust the formula for calculating the Medicare Area Wage Index (AWI) which would improve payments to Tennessee hospitals and help stabilize the health care market.

“Because Medicare payments are predicated on the Area Wage Index and the AWI for Tennessee is low, our hospitals, especially our rural hospitals and those located in East Tennessee, are placed at a significant financial disadvantage compared to other states,” explained Terry. “While medical equipment, supplies, and medications have continued to climb, Tennessee’s AWI has not. Hopefully, CMS will fix this disparity.”

Currently, every county in the State of Tennessee falls below the area wage index. This places Tennessee at a rank that is near the bottom of the reimbursement ranks in the country and has created a financial problem for hospitals in Tennessee. The relief CMS has proposed in this rule will help keep more Tennessee hospitals from shutting down, and it will help keep healthcare access open for our citizens.

As Chairman of the Health Committee, Terry worked with the Tennessee Hospital Association, members of his committee, and other groups to address this problem. In his letters, he pointed out that the structural make-up of AWI created a cycle that has led to the downfall of Tennessee’s reimbursement rate over the last 15 years. He emphasized that the proposed rule by CMS, CMS- 1716-P, would allow a beneficial plan to resolve the wage index disparities for hospitals with a wage index value below the 25th percentile, and would check the abuses of the “rural floor” calculation seen in other states.

“Medicare often doesn’t even pay enough to cover the costs to provide a service. TennCare often pays significantly less than Medicare. This problem has to be addressed if we want to recruit doctors and services that will keep our hospitals afloat,” stated Terry. “While this rule change won’t solve every problem in health care, it is a necessary step.”

In addition to addressing the AWI, Terry has been actively working on legislation within the House Republican CARE Plan which is aimed at decreasing costs and improving consumer driven care. He has, also, been working to increase efficiency with TennCare while looking to help Tennessee take advantage of the State Relief and Empowerment Waivers offered by the Trump Administration.

Many high priority topics were heard in the first year of the 111th General Assembly. I was privileged to take part in sponsoring and supporting several initiatives that will make Tennessee even better.

Healthcare –

Katie Beckett Waivers (HB 498) – This allows children with severe medical needs to receive in home care and services that they need, even if their parents’ annual income exceeds the income cap. Some families have had to divorce in order for one of the parents to qualify for TennCare in order to get help for their child. As part of the TennCare committee, I helped to form and sponsor this legislation.

Pharmacy Benefits Managers (HB 786) – PBMs, the middlemen often responsible for increased drug pricing and unfair practices against pharmacies, will now have guardrails around their actions due to the regulations passed in House Bill 786, which I co-sponsored. Additionally, I passed a budget appropriations amendment that will allow the state to implement best practice guidelines for PBMs.

Opioids (HB 705, HB 942) – Illicit fentanyl and carfentanil are opioids that are more potent than heroin, but carried lesser penalties. I co-sponsored both of these bills that increased penalties for the trafficking of these opioids.

Insurance (HB 1126 & HB 419) – I supported insurance legislation that will allow for health care policies amongst a collaboration of small businesses. In addition, I supported the Right to Shop Act which will require health insurance carriers to create incentive programs for policy holders who have met their deductible to look for healthcare providers that provide quality healthcare services at a cost lower than the average price.

Local –

Firefighters (HB 316 & HB 123) – We were able to provide better care and service to our Tennessee firefighters with a bill which will provide healthcare compensation to firefighters who have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of their work in the line of duty. Secondly, my Arson Investigator bill will extend police powers and the ability to make arrests related to arson investigation to county fire investigators. This will allow the Rutherford County Fire Department to perform their investigative duties in a much more efficient and effective manner.

Sheriffs’ Departments (HB 643) – Thanks to overwhelming support for the mental health transportation bill, Sheriffs’ departments across the state will have an alternative for transportation of mental health patients. This initiative will protect our officers and our patients.

Voter Convenience (HB 1077) – I previously passed a voter convenience pilot program for a Rutherford County. The program was an overwhelming success, and House Bill 1077 makes sure Rutherford County will be able to continue with convenient voting centers for our elections.

MTSU Funding – I was glad to support Governor Lee’s 2019 budget, which included nearly $35 million in funding for the MTSU Concrete Industry Management program.

Abortion –

Heartbeat Bill (HB 77) – I stood for Pro-Life legislation when the House of Representatives passed the Heartbeat Bill which would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat was detected, unless there were concerns for the health of the mother. Unfortunately, the Senate deferred action until 2020.

Complications of Abortion Reporting Bill (HB 711) – With the passing of my Complications Reporting Bill, Planned Parenthood will be exposed and held accountable for the complications encountered during abortion procedures that Tennessee tax dollars have to pay to fix.

Illegal Immigration –

State Dollars – I stood with the other conservative members in the fight against illegal immigration. I helped to ensure that illegal immigrants would not be able receive state benefits,

E-Verify (HB 1239) – I also supported a bill that requires that employers with 25 or more employees enroll in an electronic verification program to confirm the work authorization status of their employees. In the previous session, I helped reduce the requirement from 100 to 50 employees. This bill will reduce that number further. Unfortunately, the Senate deferred action until 2020.

Education –

Budget Funding – The General Assembly secured $168 million in new funding for Tennessee Public Education, including increased teacher pay, more school resource officers, expanded vocational education, and increased BEP funding.

MTSU Scholarships – The 2019 budget also included $750,000 in financial aid for scholarships for students in the joint MTSU/Meharry medical program.

Teacher Reward Bill (HB 632) – I sponsored and passed a bill that provides a reward of five additional professional development points (PDP) to teachers working in Priority or Focus list schools. Teachers are required to earn 60 PDP’s for their license every 6 years. The bill will help those teachers who work in difficult educational environments.

Teacher Evaluations (HB 928) – I stood with Governor Lee in his initiative to update the Tennessee teacher evaluation process. While I recognize that further protections are necessary, the bill is a step in the right direction. I will continue to fight to protect our teachers in the future.

Taxes & Employment –

The General Assembly unanimously passed a $38.5 billion budget. The budget included an addition of $225 million to the state’s rainy day fund, while eliminating the professional privilege tax for 15 professions, the amusement tax on gyms and fitness centers, and the tax on ammunition.

Tennessee’s economy is prospering. Tennessee has record low unemployment at 3.2%, businesses are moving to Tennessee every day, and the General Assembly secured $222 million to continue to bring high paying jobs to Tennessee.

The results of the most recent election cycle are set to take effect this month as the latest round of federal elected officials were sworn in at our nation’s Capitol last week and our state officials will be sworn in today in Nashville. With significant change at the state and federal levels including a new Governor and General Assembly, renewed hope springs for citizens across the state and across the nation. While I have serious doubts and reservations for progress at the federal level with Pelosi as the Speaker of the House, Tennessee is in position to further improve our standing as a leader in our nation. I’m looking forward to the opportunity and the challenge.

Throughout my time in service to our community, our shared values have been consistent and I expect this session to have a strong focus on many of our concerns. Below is a primer for this session with some topics I expect to be discussed.

Safety: School safety and judicial reform will be on the agenda.

Health: TennCare oversight and review may lead to some significant improvements in the system. Health insurance and prescription costs will be discussed. Mental health, opioids, and medical cannabis will, also, be on our agenda.

Affordability: Keeping Tennessee a low tax state will be a priority.

Recreation and Tourism: A sports gambling bill has been offered and will be discussed.

Education: Testing, funding, teacher recruitment, school choice, and higher education costs are expected to be discussed.

Voice: Transparency, accountability, and open government will garner more attention, as citizen groups continue to bring awareness to these issues.

Agriculture: With hemp legalization at the federal level and agricultural medicine becoming a booming market, I expect there to be discussions on the impact on Tennessee and how we can help our rural communities compete.

Liberties: I expect free speech, second amendment, and personal liberties to experience legislation on various fronts. A “red flag” bill has already been proposed.

Unborn: More pro-life legislation is expected to be filed this session. One can look at recent successful measures from other states to ascertain what to expect.

Economy: Removing barriers to employment and entrepreneurship will be amongst the priorities of the General Assembly.

Security: Democrats may attempt to attract illegal immigration to Tennessee, but don’t look for those bills to gain much traction.

More than likely, there will be over 1000 bills filed. As we get into session, look for my weekly update on Facebook.

With prescription drug prices and health care costs on the rise, Rep. Bryan Terry, MD(R-Murfreesboro) tackled the problem head on during the 110th General Assembly with various measures aimed at transparency and pro-rating copayments. As part of his agenda, President Donald Trump has focused on prescription drug prices, and Rep. Terry led Tennessee in taking several steps to help cut costs for patients.

The lack of transparency and competition in prescription drug pricing have contributed to an environment where costs of medications have skyrocketed. President Trump mentioned the problems in his State of the Union address and his Council of Economic Advisors(CEA) found that the lack of transparency is hurting the consumer. At the center of this issue is a controversial contractual measure applied by Pharmacy Benefit Managers(PBM) to prohibit pharmacists from telling patients that their medication may be cheaper if they pay cash. The “Pharmacy Gag Clause”, as it is known in the industry, has often led to patients and their employers paying a significant greater amount for their prescriptions while the PBM’s receive a cut from the overpayment known as a clawback.

“Patients and employers should be irate that this practice even existed,” explained Rep. Terry. “I co-sponsored and amended a bill(HB 2219) that removed the gag clause to ensure that patients will have the right to know that they can pay a cheaper price.”

Rep. Terry didn’t stop there, though. At the center of Governor Haslam’s TN Together opioid legislation is a concept called partial filling of prescriptions or as Dr. Terry calls it “Patient Tailored Dispensing”. Rep. Terry was the architect behind amending the TN Together Plan to ensure patients weren’t going to over pay for prescriptions.

“The original bill placed multiple hardships on patients and providers including multiple copayments and trips to the doctor just to have pain treated which, to me, was unacceptable,” described Terry. “With the support of Speaker Harwell, I worked with the Governor and his staff, as well as Senator Haile, on language that decreases the burden and costs for patients while ensuring that we, also, decrease unnecessary opioids in medical cabinets and on the street.”

On the last day of session, Terry amended his own legislation, HB 2440, to ensure patients would only pay a prorated amount of their copayments and cost sharing for their prescriptions on controlled substances. Though TN Together authorized patient tailored dispensing, it was Terry’s legislation that protected patients from the extra burden of multiple full payments.

“I’m proud to have led in this fight in standing up for patients to improve transparency and cut prescription costs, but there is still more that needs to be done,” concluded Terry. “I look forward to continuing to address these issues to improve patient care.”

Rep. Bryan Terry, MD is the Chairman of the House Health Subcommittee and, also, serves on the full Health and Civil Justice Committees. He can be reached at rep.Bryan.Terry@Capitol.TN.Gov or at 615-741-2180.